Nicole had just completed her last shuttle run of the watch and stopped by barracks showered and changed. Dressed in some civvies that she'd purchased with her last stipend. Several of the gals and two dock workers were headed to the Easy Inn to play dabo and drink. Nicole several minutes later decided to follow them and check out the Inn she'd heard so much about.
She entered the semi darkness to flashing lights from the various gaming tables and machines, to some sort of glittering ball that hung from the ceiling, and the spotlight behind the bar. The place was seemingly packed. She walked further in and found a spot at the bar and took the seat.
The barkeep wandered her way and not being much of a drinker. She wet her lips and said, "Bloody Mary." She saw him nod and watched as he found the bottle and poured.
She relaxed and sat against the back of the seat and looked to around. Next to her sat a man--a Bajoran, with mid length wavy dark hair, and magnificent dark eyes... He noticed her and smiled as he took another sip of his drink. She smiled back and found the nerve to say, "Hello, I'm Nicole."
Stephen Maruu looked at the woman sitting next to her. "Hello." He smiled and put out his hand. "I'm Stephen."
Nicole paused for a moment. She took his hand hesitantly and just stared blankly. Then, she found the courage to say something else. "So...do you work here?"
Stephen responded quickly. "No. No, I don't" He paused. "I'm on leave."
Nicole sighed happily, now that the ice had been broken. "From what? Did you serve on the Ronin?"
Stephen smiled. "No. The USS Virgo. I was the CO."
"Oh!" Nicole looked around, visibly embarrassed at the thought of having attempted to make a pass at a captain, and not just any captain, the captain of the famed Virgo.
Stephen touched Nicole on the shoulder. "It's okay. If most of the people here really knew who I was, I'd never get any sleep. Half would be commending me, and the other half would be issuing death threats."
Nicole smiled at what she thought might have been a joke. She took a another sip of her drink and looked back at him, and said, "I'm Nicole Shea, shuttle pilot here on SB901--have only been here 3 months."
He nodded, and asked, "Where were you before then?"
"I've been working independent tramp freighters; I'm actually looking for my parents who own the UFP Corinthian. Austin Bowe and Siobhan, are my parents and they were lost 16 years ago." She hadn't told anyone locally what she was doing there, and realized she didn't know why she'd just told this stranger.
He noted the wet almost tear fullness in her eyes, before she turned and stared at the bar top. He reached over and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "So, what are you doing living here?"
Nicole looked up and sighed, "I decided, I need to get official trade training, and figured that I'd be in contact with a larger stationary body of people and possibly hear more leads."
He continued to smile and nod as he listened. He ordered a replacement for his drink and for hers. They sat and conversation stopped and started as they got to know one another. Finally, he stood and winked at the barkeep as he took her hand and asked, "Care to dance, Nicole?"
After swallowing hard she said ,"yes." She slid to the ground and hand-in hand joined him. Two dances later she was resting her head on his shoulder and he rested one hand around her waist. She'd never been this close to anyone, she stiffened as his hand wandered. She took a deep breathe and forced herself to relax.
He noticed that she'd stiffened and relaxed. He took a breath and whispered, "you're doing great. Are you having a good time?"
She giggled and opened her eyes and looked up into his. "This certainly isn't what I had in mind for tonight."
"That's good. I'm certainly happy with this evening's outcome." He slid his right hand up along the angle of her jaw, ran her earlobe between his finger and thumb and then slid his whole hand behind her head and into her air. His eyes on her's he stepped in real close and kissed her lightly at first and then deeper. His commbadge chirped, "Jovani to Stephen." With a sigh he pulled back from Nicole and touched his badge and said, "Stephen here."
"Your presences is required."
Stephen rested his forehead on Nicole's and said, "I'm on my way." He met Nicole's eyes. "Duty calls."
"I have to be on the flight line at 0400." Together they walked back to the bar. He nodded to barkeep and who looked to the young woman and back to Stephen and with a smile nodded a second time. He still had her hand in his and in the relative quiet of the Promenade he backed her against the wall and holding both hands down leaned in and kissed her again. When they both came up for air, he asked, "Can we see each other again?"
"Yes," She smiled and said, "I'd love that, when?"
"Can I call you and set something up?" He smiled.
"Yes." She looked at the time and said, "You're needed somewhere and I need to get some sleep and do my preflight." She stepped into him and kissed him and when they stepped apart she turned and walked down the corridor.